Yes, very sad news.

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Train safe & smart
Bob

holy toledo!

sad to hear that such a young and talented guy is just gone.

wow ...

sincere condolences to his family ...

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Where would you want to swim ?

Oh wow.

One of the true gentlemen of the sport. He will be missed and his family will be in all our hearts.

Grace...I can think of no better word to describe what he brought to us all through sport.

Scott

My prayers to his family.

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"A merry heart doeth good like medicine." (Proverbs 17:22)

Holy shit...that is terrible. So shocking...

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ADW

 
Wow...I'm truly shocked.

My deepest sympathies and prayers go out to his family.

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http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Nooooooooo... :(

I was just following (and contributing to) a thread the other day of new TYR goggles he was talking about.

Very sad to hear about this... seemed like a really genuine guy.

My condolences.

:(

how old was Steve? were there any signs?

man, makes you want to sieze the day, any of us could not be here tomorrow...

: (

I'm in shock.

My heart breaks for his kids. He just posted a ton of pics of them on Facebook. He is so proud of them.

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Shawn
TORRE Consulting Services, LLC
http://www.TORREcs.com

Horrible news. What a competitor and person to aspire for all those in multisport to be more like. Steve did it all, and did it while balancing it with a full life and slate of responsibilities. Always very cool to me at the races and fortunate to have him kick my butt last year at worlds hardest 1/2 in Auburn. After the race we talked for a bit and he gave me some insight on training for the bike, a few weeks later he made sure to follow up with me at IM CDA and ask how I was fairing. I think he used to keep his kids in "tow" just to remind us how he not only was faster, but still was a full time dad to boot : )

Thoughts are with his family and friends today.

What a shock! He just kicked butt at the Xterra!

His signature line told me a lot about his priorities:

Steve Larsen - dad, triathlete, mtbiker, roadie & online retailer

Sad news indeed. Thoughts are with his family!

that's awful news! condolences to his family..

as a relative newcomer, i'd only been privileged to read a few of his reviews, but his generous and eloquent sharing of his experiences with products were a great asset to the members here. a terrible loss for the multisport community.

-mistress k

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__________________________________________________________
ill advised racing inc.

This is absolutely horrible news. I followed his career through his road cycling, mtb, and finally triathlon both as a pro and then age grouper. Steve showed us all that we can/should continue to train and race for a lifetime. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Wow. Truly a shock.
My thoughts are with his wife and family. Especially his children.

Wow.

Brad

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3SIXTY5cycling.com

all my positive vibes goes to his family....

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Jonathan Caron / Professional Coach / ironman champions / age group world champions
Jonnyo Coaching
Instargram

hard to believe. such a tremendous loss. my thoughts go out to his family and many close friends.

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________________________________________________________________________
"that which does not destroy me will only make me stronger" Frederick Nietzsche
andrew peabody
http://BREAKAWAYMULTISPORT.COM

Oh my god....so sad for the kids and wife. On this morning's hard ride with the boyz doing some hard sprints with my heart jumping out of my chest, I was questioning the value of going so deep and so hard at my age!!! One of the guys in the ride beside me almost died from DVT 2 years ago but made a full comeback.

Thanks for sharing, as painful as this news is!

This sucks. :'(

Prayers for his family and firends.

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_____________________________________________
Rick, "Retired" hobbyist athlete
Trying to come back slowly from acute A-Fib

My mouth is on the floor. So sad. Nice guy and he had a great family.

Wonder what the autopsy will show. He must either have a family history or this was an arrhythmia.

Frank

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--------------
Frank,
An original Ironman and the Inventor of PowerCranks

Terrible, terrible news.

Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones that will surely miss a man that was a legend in his own time.
I remember when Steve and Tinker would go head to head at MTB nationals. Steve was a hoss to the nth degree and had a tremendous influence on my experience with biking and racing. Every interaction with Steve that I had always left me thinking that he was one of the great ones.

We'll miss you Steve.

Unbelievable.

Truly one of my heroes in sport.

My condolences to Carrie and the kids.

Our Prayers from Jackson, MS go out to the Larsen family.

Eugene

Very sad news and my thoughts go out to his family.

The multisport world is definitely a little duller today.

My thoughts and prayers to his wife, family and friends.

John

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Top notch coaching: Francois and Accelerate3 | Follow on Twitter: LifetimeAthlete |

No, not another case of someone being taken too soon. Dammit.

I just received an email from him Monday about an order I places and thanked him profusely for his awesome customer service. I was going to post a thread on how awesome my experience with Steve was and how I never expected someone as successful as Steve to be so damn down to earth.

Geez Louise this is just so terrible.

I'm just sitting here looking at the screen. Speechless.

A unique guy, unlike any other pro we have ever supported. Super professional, whether we sponsored him or not (we did both in his career), he always treated us the same. Really a nice guy, sometimes misunderstood, but a good guy. So sad.

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Gerard Vroomen
3T.bike
OPEN cycle

Awful news...he definitely seemed like one hell of a guy. Condolences to all his family and friends.

This loss hits hard.

Thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family.

I was up at Lake Placid in 2001 watching when Steve hammered to victory.The man had a passion for life!!! He will truly be missed.My prayers to Steve's family.

Absolutely speechless here. :(

His passion was an inspiration to me.

My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family.

---

--
I ride Felt.

That is very sad, my thoughts go to his family.

I have learned a lot from his posts, and he always struck me as a polite and friendly guy.

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------------------------------
Another IM in 2016 - hopefully..

I'm going to miss him. I'm sitting here looking at the bike he sold me ("you will NOT ride a triple!") and am trying to remember when we first met, but I can't remember. It felt like we'd been friends forever. He and Carrie and the kids are the most beautiful family and he was so thrilled to go watch Massi race and with Amalia's track running. Really, really a stand up guy.

clm

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

Heavy news. Sadness. Thoughts are with his family.

That pretty much sums him up. Steve was one of my first real heroes in the sport. I remember when he won IMLP, setting the course record, and I thought, "I wanna be like that guy."

Like Gerard, I spent a while just staring at what Dan wrote, trying to figure out what had happened. I had, and have, this sense that somehow this just couldn't be right.

My sincere condolences to his wife and his kids.

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"Non est ad astra mollis e terris via." - Seneca | rappstar.com | FB - Rappstar Racing | IG - @jordanrapp

What the heack? I'm speechless.

Prayers to his family.

He has like 17 kids or so. I want to help them. We all should do something.

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_________________________________________________
CAMPAGNOLO GRAN FONDO NEW YORK

words can't describe. great guy. my heart goes out to his family and all those who will miss him. everyone hug your family and friends just a little tighter...

wow, this is a shocker, I had to re-read since I was in disbelief.

My condolences to his friends and family, he will be missed

As someone at a similar point in life as Steve, this makes me unbelievably sad as well as a bit terrified.

My children will wonder why I hug them tighter and longer than usual tonight.

very sorry to hear this.. my thoughts and prayers are with his family.
may his memory be eternal.

unbelievable and deeply saddening.

my thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

What terrible news, very, very sad :-(((

My condolences to his family.

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-

The Triathlon Squad

Like us on Facebook!!!

Incredibly sad news to get this call.

I know Steve professionally, as I purchased his bike shop in Davis from him years ago. I knew him best as a straight shooting, honest, and caring person. Steve was an extremely talented individual, excelling in a variety of roles in life, from his road/track/mountain/tri dominance, a variety of non-bike related business ventures, to the father of a large family.

Our thoughts are with Carrie and the family.

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-Joe Santos

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Joe Santos

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Davis Wheelworks | dW² Facebook | dW² Twitter

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BMC | Boardman | Cervélo | Felt | Lapierre | Atomic High Performance | ENVE | HED. | SRM | Stages | Zipp

As others, I am in shock. I have to take comfort that his actions showed obviously where his passions were, and many of us are envious of that drive to chase his passions. He seemed to be the real deal...a genuine father, and a warrior to the nth degree. His memory will be one of great fire and drive, tempered by the compassion of being a true father. He will live on by his actions...
My sincere sympathies go to the family, who have wonderful memories to carry them through this time of pain.

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Gary Geiger
http://www.geigerphoto.com Professional photographer

TEAM KiWAMi NORTH AMERICA http://www.kiwamitri.com, Rudy Project http://www.rudyprojectusa.com, GU https://guenergy.com/shop/ ; Salming World Ambassador; https://www.shopsalming.com

Thoughts and prayers are with his family...

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"There is no charge for awesomeness or attractiveness." Po "The Dragon Warrior", Kung-Fu Panda

I started doing tris in the summer of 2001. I remember Steve winning IMLP and then eaglerly following him online in Kona that year. A good buddy and I who trained together a lot would take fliers in training rides pretending to be like Steve.

What an incredible athletic resume, and yet still seemed like just a genuine nice guy. Always got the impression that he was a guy who just liked to ride his bike and was really good at it, always looking for a new challenge.

Thoughts go out to his family.

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Portside Athletics Blog

oh my god. I just exchanged some emails with him over the weekend. It's a dark day today.

My prayers are with his family.

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__________________
JP

my twitter feed

Terrible news! Condolences to his family and friends...

Condolences to his family.

My only interactions with him were here and on email, but he seemed like a great guy.

We've all lost today, but his family more than the rest of us.

-Jot

I was completely floored when I found out about that last night. I admired Steve Larsen both as an athlete and a person and know that he will be terribly missed. My thoughts at his time are with his family and close friends. Last night I had a hard time falling asleep as I could see his image in my head with a big smile on his face.

Godspeed Steve Larsen

Shock is not the word! I remember talking with him at Kona in 2003. Very enthusiastic guy and willing to give his time. Wow ...

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____________________________________
Fatigue is biochemical, not biomechanical.
- Andrew Coggan, PhD

"I'm just sitting here looking at the screen. Speechless."
-------------------------------------------

Ditto.

Haim

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"Sometimes you need to think INSIDE the box!" -- ME
"Why squirrel hate me?"

My thoughts go out to Michael and Carrie and Steve's children.

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Lars Finanger
Odyssey SwimRun

RIP, Steve. My condolences to his wife and kids. Sad day for triathlon. :(

-DaveV

I can't even believe this...he wasn't even 40 yet I don't think. What an incredible loss. One of the really good guys in the sport who always gave back.

What absolute shocking and sad news.
I really enjoyed his contributions to the sport and ST.
My thoughts are with his wife and kids and family.

Ewan

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Ewan

-------------------------

I'm just speechless. Worked with him years as an equipment sponsor and he was just the nicest, most down to earth, likable guy. Heartfelt condolences to his family.

Just sad news... thoughts go out to his wife and kids.
Shawn

My heart just sunk reading this. I'm mostly a lurker, but definitely impressed with his knowledge and temperament here. I probably can't even imagine how many this tragedy touches.

He seemed like a very decent person and a great athlete. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

Jeff

Incredibly sad news. My condolences to his wife, children, and the rest of his family and friends.

Velonews has it up now: http://www.velonews.com/...ttack-during-running

I've honestly read your post 5 times now. I traded emails with Steve yesterday morning. He was so happy and full of life. So giving of his knowledge and enthusiasm. And now he is gone. My condolences go out to his family, his kids and the triathlon community. One of our hero has gone to the great triathlon camp in the sky.

And now I an going to cry.

Sad news, prayers sent for his family.

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"Sometimes you got to learn to hurt"

News so hard to believe. Steve always being one of the fittest, strongest athletes, always willing share his experiences and knowledge, while stilll being one of the nicest guys. Steve will be missed. My thoughts and prayers go to his family.

Boy this just sucks! I live in Bend and knew Steve since he moved here the first time, I’ve been on may group rides with him, not being a “friend” of his just one of the guys that rides in bend witch there is a ton of. he always remembered my name and would say hey when we would be at a race or passing in town.
I would always see him out running or riding the trails with one or more of his kids or up XC skiing and he would always say hey Dan., He was just that kind of guy.
The City of Bend and all of sports has just lost a super guy he will be missed!
Dan
Bend, or

What???!!! Terrible terrible news!!!

This is so sad. I can't say anything that hasn't already been said. I am in absolute disbelief.

Terrible news, my thoughts for his wife and family. He will be missed and leaves behind accomplishments that rival anyone in sport.

Kevin

This is terrible!!! I wonder if we could get some stickers made that said "larsen" and put them on our bikes much like other sports do when a fellow competitor dies. Maybe sell the stickers and give the proceeds to his family.

He will be missed

He leaves behind 5 children. God bless his family through the times ahead.

:-( x many

:(

How sad. He was awesome.

Goes to show that what we do increases the quality of our lives, but not necessarily the quantity of it.

Horrible. Horrible. A tremendous loss to our community. I'm deeply saddened by this news.

We'll miss you Steve.

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Ian Murray
http://www.TriathlonTrainingSeries.com
I like the pursuit of mastery
Twitter - @TriCoachIan

How sad, I can't believe it.

Condolences to his family, must be a very tough time for them.

I am in shock!
I really liked and respected Steve. He was solid guy and an amazing athlete.

Peter

This is really sad, I just heard. Condolences to his family and loved ones.

Incredibly sad news about a man so passionate about his family and leading a healthy active lifestyle.

Heartfelt condolences to Steve's family and friends.

Terrible news.

Condolences to his family and friends.

Wow, in a blink of an eye. I always admired Steve through his MTB and triathlon exploits, and always empathized with those like Steve who could smoke the bike but still searched to find the balance on the run. What a remarkable talent and person. Really gives me pause and has got me thinking about a physical/scan.

Rest in peace Steve and much peace to your wife and kids.

Just posting to express my sadness to the news.

What a sad event. A real loss to the community, my thoughts go to his family.

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"How bad can it be?" - SimpleS

I'm so saddened by this tragic news.

It was just the other day I asked him about his return to Lake Placid. God bless his family.

Dan,

Is there going to be a Slowtwitch Condolence boquet or anything ? Please let us know if there will be.

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_______________________________________________________

Seeing him in deep torment, I said. " You can have my last GU , but its been down my pants for most of the run". - John Hirsch

Take care of your body, its by far the coolest thing you're going to ever own.- Can't remember who told me this, but I love it.

I am blessed to have known Steve in my multisport life.... as a fan, as a sponsor, and as a friend. My thoughts are with his family. He was a gentleman and a competitor.

This puts so much in perspective. Steve will be truly missed. Thoughts and prayers go out to Steve's family and friends.

steve was a tremendous inspiration as a family man who remained competitive - balancing important aspects of life.

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Damn, that's a cold ass honkey.

Wow. This is horrible news. One of the truly classy guys on this forum and a guy I really respected.
My sympathies to his family.
Mark

I hope his family and friends know what an inspiration he was to a lot of us out in the multisport community. I pray for peace for them and am thankful that such a great guy shared so much of his time, experience and humor with us.

I can honestly say there are almost no pro athletes I think "Wow I'd like to be just like him" but Steve was that guy for me. Just awesome in so many fields and ways. I loved his acknowledgment of his role as dad first and athlete second. I always thought that was cool and right.

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-Andrew Saar
It is better to do the right thing and be paid poorly,
than to do the wrong thing and be rewarded richly.

Steve was an outstanding athlete, and an outstanding person. He was always down to earth and caring, and he will be missed dearly. Rest in peace, mate.

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http://www.Felipe-Bastos.com
--------------------------------------------
Blog: felipebastos.blogspot.com
Facebook: facebook.com/felipebastos
Twitter: @felipebastos1

I'm floored... :(

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Very sad news.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

this is the first i have heard of Steve. but from a fellow triathlete.....i'm saddend. if there's something organized to help his family, i'm in. i feel for his wife and precious kids.

This is a huge, huge loss for the entire endurance sports community. He'll always be remembered as one of the best. I wish his family well.

I was eating cereal when I saw the thread subject, and I thought to myself, "No way! Don't tell me ... " And then, there it was. When we don't know someone personally and we hear others talk about them, we tend to say, "Oh, he/she seems like a nice person, etc etc." Steve stuck out on the forum not just because of his success and ability, but because, to me, he participated in conversations here with genuine interest and familiarity. I think it's fair to say even having not known him that he was, indeed, a great person.

An incredible and shocking loss. RIP.

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Gnothi Seauton.

I can't believe it! Steve and his family will be in my prayers.

I'm very sorry to hear that. He's one of my triathlon heroes and a great guy to deal with for new gear. My heart goes out to his family.

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...
Hoka One One (Hawaii)
facebook.com/hokaoneonehawaii

A huge loss

Bend must be in total shock. He was an icon over there.

Of all the heart attack scenarios, the Gods had to choose this one?!?? The finality of it stuns me. I guess Steve's luck really did run out...

RIP, and condolences to his family.

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He was a natural born incredible athlete.......enjoy life everyday.

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** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
If you aren't sweating you aren't having fun!

As someone new to the boards I was shocked to get a message from him just last week in response to a question I had posted. He took the time to talk to me and give advice as if I was a longtime member/friend. I devoured all his posts and articles and could not believe he would have taken the time to do that.

Unbelievable...

Thoughts and prayers to his family, friends and all of the people's lives he touched.

Steve was a guy that did everything with passion. He went through all of the sports with near perfection. He took the fast track to success in everything he set out: Xterra, Retail, IM. What I gathered from him, is that he was able to stay more in balance than the rest of us, as he never missed a beat with his family.

His abilltiy to maintain the work load of family, work and play was unbelievable. He was a true proffesional in being a human.

PT

:(

I just got out of the hospital this morning after having surgery and just heard this awful news!

I'm shocked and speechless and can't even comment I'm so upset.

Shocking and terrible. He was much too nice of a man to go now. We are all better for having had him in our lives. It's a reminder to give our loved ones an extra hug today.

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Blazeman Warrior - so others may live
Live more than your neighbors.... Bark at the moon like the wild dog that you are.... And by all means, whatever you do, get it on film.

Condolences to his family...sounded like a great guy

Honestly, I don't know why people are suprised. Extreme endurance athletes have been dying far to often in the last couple of years. Salazar is lucky to be alive, I think his heart stopped for like 20 minutes. I used to love going out for 5 hour rides, but could no longer ignore the facts: high volume endurance training is not healthy for the organism. The chronic elevation of cortisol is devastating, among other adverse adaptations taking place in the myocardium.

wow, just horrible news. RIP Steve..

Terrible news - I have some PM's from him discussing tires alternatives from last March. I was impressed that a world class athlete would value some input on his trusted tire choice spanning many years. We must never take our lives for granted.

I think anytime a 39-year-old father of five dies of a heart attack, it's a surprise. But this was a pretty big shocker for those of us who've become Steve Larsen fans over the years. In a lot of ways, he was the ideal "weekend warrior" we're emulating—balancing family, business and a pursuit of endurance sports.

Very, very sad day, our thoughts and prayers go out to his family

anyone have a link to his website... I think that is the least we can do to help the family out in some small way. We all have essentials or some piece of gear that needs to be purchased now. A small way of helping the family for the future. Terrible, terrible loss for the sport, and absolutely unfathomable for his family.

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http://ianmikelsonracing.com/2013/

Terrible news, thoughts are with his family and friends.

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VALÄ’RE | YouTube

I'm absolutely shocked. Very sad day indeed. I came from a cycling background first, then to multisport... so he was definitely someone I admired. He gave 110% in everything he did; we should all strive for that.

My deepest sympathy to his family & friends.

I am stunned. Steve was a Sportsman in every positive sense of the word; we just lost one of our best ambassadors to the sports of swim, bike, and run.

As some have already mentioned, and as Dan has written here on ST, the decision to push the boundaries of human performance is not one to be taken lightly. The brain and spirit can punish the body beyond health and fitness. It's hard for a competitive spirit like Steve's (and many pro athletes) to know when to dial it back. And sometimes, even if you have years of knowing your body's signals, there are hidden conditions that get more critical with age and stress.

I'm sad for Carrie and the kids. Steve's death is going to make me think hard (again) about the balance I'm struggling to find between fitness, sport, and fatherhood.

The only solace I can find is in the fact that Steve was doing what he loved when he died. Small comfort but it's not nothing.

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Mr. Uncaptured External Costs

Fossil carbon is planetary poison.

Very sad and terrible news. My thoughts to his family.

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BA coaching http://www.bjornandersson.se

Truly a sad story and my heart goes out to his family. He was a phenomenal father, athlete and overall a phenomenal person. He will be missed.


ERIK

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"Spectacular achievements are always preceded by spectacular preparation."

Awful news :-(

My prayers and condolences to his wife and children.

Truly sorry to hear of this. He has always been a hero to me. I saw him when he was on top of the MTB seen and was dissapointed to not see him go to the olympics when he was our best bet. He handled it with class and went on to excel at the top in Tri. Just amazing to see an athlete who could adapt to so many diciplines. Says alot and you know he did it because he loved it eh! God bless!

Very very sad. A great guy and a tremendous resource to the community.

So sad. I remember Steve, in what I think was his first race after returning to the age-group ranks, at Vineman 70.3. His wave went off after mine. On the front part of the bike course there I was tooling along when I hear this crazy whoosh whoosh coming up from behind me. He passed me like I was standing still (which I was on a relative basis). A huge loss to the tri community.

Very sad news.

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"Human existence is based upon two pillars: Compassion and knowledge. Compassion without knowledge is ineffective; Knowledge without compassion is inhuman." Victor Weisskopf.

I had the honor to chat with Steve the day before Xterra Nationals in 2003 at Lake Tahoe, he even took my bike for a short spin to check out the Magura Marta's i had just bought. He was a very nice guy and someone who i always followed due to his crush-it-on the bike racing style. So sad to hear, my condolences & prayers go out to his family.
RIP Steve

Shocking, very sad to hear. I'll watch for more from you and staff on this Slowman.

Speechless. I started out mountain bike racing and then got into multisport, so I've always followed Steve's career in awe with what he was able to accomplish. The guy was simply amazing.

I hope his family and friends can get some sort of closure eventually; as I can't begin to imagine what they are going through.

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_______________________________________________

Damn. Really lost a member of the community yesterday. Makes me think twice about my track workout today. Damn.

So disturbing and a huge loss, especially for his family. I never met him or had any encounters with him other then reading his posts here. It was hard not to like the guy, so down to earth and had his priorities in place.

Makes you think, geesh

My thoughts are with his family and friends. He will be in my mind this evening during the annual Ride of Silence, for although he didn't die while cycling, he certainly loved to ride.

I did the same thing. This is truely devistating. My family's condolences go out to his family and friends.

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"your horse is too high" - tigerchik

I can't believe what I am reading?!?! What sad news. My thoughts go out this his wife and family. This is just too sad to hear

I did not know him personally, but I greatly appreciated the fact that he shared his knowledge with us. He is responsible for turning me into a happy compression junkie. In his memory, I'll crushing (it's all relative) the bike in Honu, while proudly flying the compression socks that he reviewed for us.

To a previous poster: Steve's website is worldtri.com

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Stephen

Man that is amazing..we all live fragile lives.

I will miss his posts, best wishes to his family.

Andrew

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C'mon legs run faster!
Being fast on a crappy bike is cool
Fueled by Guinness, Tuborg, Anchor Steam and Creemore Springs

Very sad, my thoughts and prayers go out to Steve and his family.

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Live long and surf!

From Lance: "So sad hearing about the loss of Steve Larsen. Leaves a wife and 5 kids. Terrible. He and I were on natl team and Motorola together."
about 3 hours ago from TwitterBerry

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Shawn
TORRE Consulting Services, LLC
http://www.TORREcs.com

So blessed to have met you last year Steve. God Bless you and your family.

Our time is short people.

My condolences to Steve's family.

This is so so sad. I didn't know who Steve was until I met him last year at CA 70.3 He raised money and was racing for CAF Operation Rebound. Talked with him for a few minutes and was impressed with how down to earth he was in spite of his incredible athletic talent. What a loss. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family!

Speechless and in shock!

My thoughts and condolences go out to his family and close friends.

I was talking with him on the phone a couple of weeks ago.

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Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

I was utterly shocked when I heard this earlier today. It seems impossible.


My sincerest condolences to his wife and family. He will be missed.


Godspeed Steve,

-Mike

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float , hammer , and jog

 
sad day.

to his family; he will me missed greatly by the triathlon community.
as the dutch say.. sterkte

(rather than simply saying they are sorry, the dutch wish the family 'strength')

Very shocking and very sad.
Steve's family and friends are in my thoughts.

I can't add anything that hasn't been said already on this thread. Very sad for this to happen to a guy so young.

Unbelievable. Truly a sad day. Rest in peace Steve Larsen.

I'm shocked and saddened to wake to this news.

RIP Steve, thanks for the advice and friendship. Best wishes to all Steve's family, I'm very sorry for your loss.

I am shocked and saddened. Wow, I can't imagine how hard this hurts for his wife and kids :(

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Founder of THE TRIATHLON COLLECTIVE (Closed Facebook Group). A SBR discussion group without the white noise/trolling!

It is very hard for me to accecpt when Icons like Steve pass. I tend to put such great individuals in the catagory of 'Larger than Life. '

Steve always impressed me with his genuine ability to relate to weekend warriors like myself.

What a loss, He will be missed.

It just proves once again that life is frail and every minute is to be celebrated.

DB

A true legend. He will be missed.

just heard the news on velonews, cycling and multisport have lost a legend today. RIP.

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"I like to start out slow, and then taper off."

-Doug Thorne (TVHS XC)

I feel sick....:(

Looks like it might not have been a heart attack after all.
http://velonews.com/...ie-of-a-heart-attack

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Shawn
TORRE Consulting Services, LLC
http://www.TORREcs.com

This is very unfortunate. I was just visiting Bend last week and thought about how lucky he was to reside there and as I saw a rider hammering back from Mt. Bachelor early one morning I could not help but wonder if that was him. I still think his win at IMLP and subsequent performance at Hawaii later that season (2001?) were probably two of the most memorable moments in the past 10 years of this sport. He will be greatly missed.

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"When I first had the opportunity to compete in triathlon, it was the chicks and their skimpy race clothing that drew me in. Everyone was so welcoming and the lifestyle so obviously narcissistic. I fed off of that vain energy. To me it is what the sport is all about."

wow I cant believe it. I never knew Steve but heard great things about him. He was an incredible athlete and one of the triathletes i look up to and aspire to be. I am in so much shock of this and my prayers go to his family. This teaches us all to seize the day and live in the moment because it could be your last moment. RIP Steve we all miss you

I am stunned. He was so passionate for the sport(s) we all love. We all should have that passion in everything we do.

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All I Wanted Was A Pepsi, Just One Pepsi

Team Zoot, Team Zoot Mid-Atlantic

I'm sorry to hear about Steve Larsen, it was a real shock. I started triathlon the same year he did. My second triathlon ever was Half Vineman in 2001, which he won. If I recall correctly, he set a new course record that year (though I think it has been broken since).

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Kicking butt and writing down people's names since 2001

I did not know Steve personally, and my life is all the worse for that. He seemed like a genuine person, very open to giving his time for others.
RIP Steve.
My condolences to his family.

Very nice words Dan. I'll join in raising a prayer for the loved ones left behind.

stunned.

Thoughts to his family.

Shocking because of how sudden his death was, and tragic because of his importance to so many.

Very sad story. I bought some parts for my bike from worldtri.com and Steve personally wrote me several times thanking me for the order and then asked how the products were working after I received them. I had a problem with one of my orders and Steve jumped right on the problem and fixed it. Pretty first class service that you rarely see anymore. I didn't personally know Steve, but it was easy to see the quality of his character.

My thoughts go out to his friends and family. Rest in peace Steve.

Chris Thornham

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Chris Thornham
Co-Founder And Previous Owner Of FLO Cycling

oh my. wow. I don't know what to say.

my thoughts are with his family and close friends at this horrid time.

Very sad day. My prayers go out to his family and friends.

So sad, he was a class act, he and his family will be in our prayers

So tragic and a total shock. I would have liked to met him.

My condolences to his family and friends.

Ray G

Thanks for all your thoughts. The kids keep reading the posts and appreciate how much he meant to others.
Carrie Larsen

*my 1st st post

god bless him and his family

Very sad story that happened, so sad story leaving 5 kids and wife behind ... My thoughts to the family.
I think we are all in shock and it's still hard to believe that death can do that to a brother, a sister, a husband, a dad, or a kid !
Let's pray for his soul, his wife and the kids !

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Disclaimer : work in bike/triathlon industry

Very sad to hear. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Larsen family and friends. I am in total shock.

My prayers go out to his family and friends, this is such a shock...

~

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Eric - "Train Smart, Race Smart, Finish Strong"

I am in total shock! I was hoping that I read the thread line incorrectly. I still can't believe it. I marveled at Steve and his talent not only to be the best athlete he could be but also the best Husband and Father. I for one will miss Steve.

Bruce Gennari

Godspeed. A life too short. A man to aspire to.

So tragic! Very sobering when a top athlete like Steve is taken from us without warning. Being 45 years old with two kids, this really hits home with me. Condolences to his family.

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My business-eBodyboarding.com

I never met Steve, but it is hard to believe about his passing...what an icon of endurance exercise and racing....God bless him and watch over his family...

So young and full of promise and with a super family behind him...this is a huge blow...you will be in our thoughts and prayers...b2

A life taken too soon.

My sincere condolences to his wife and children.

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DFL > DNF > DNS

Very Sad. I am reminded of this from A.E. Housman:

A. E. Housman To An Athlete Dying Young

THE time you won your town the race [/url]We chaired you through the market-place; [/url]Man and boy stood cheering by, [/url]And home we brought you shoulder-high. [/url]To-day, the road all runners come, 5[/url] Shoulder-high we bring you home, [/url]And set you at your threshold down, [/url]Townsman of a stiller town. [/url]Smart lad, to slip betimes away [/url]From fields where glory does not stay, 10[/url] And early though the laurel grows [/url]It withers quicker than the rose. [/url]Eyes the shady night has shut [/url]Cannot see the record cut, [/url]And silence sounds no worse than cheers 15[/url] After earth has stopped the ears: [/url]Now you will not swell the rout [/url]Of lads that wore their honours out, [/url]Runners whom renown outran [/url]And the name died before the man. 20[/url] So set, before its echoes fade, [/url]The fleet foot on the sill of shade, [/url]And hold to the low lintel up [/url]The still-defended challenge-cup. [/url]And round that early-laurelled head 25[/url] Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead, [/url]And find unwithered on its curls [/url]The garland briefer than a girl's.

Godspeed Steve, My prayers to Carrie and the kids

Very very sad, tragic news. :-( Why is it always the good ones who are taken too soon? My thoughts are with his family tonight.....

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http://thethighmasterroutetokona.blogspot.com

Very Very sad. Seemed like a great guy. Cycling and multisport has just lost a great friend and mentor.

Wow. This is horrible news. My thoughts go out to his wife, his children, and all of his friends.

This is very sad thing indeed...

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<If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough>
Get Fitter!
Proud member of the Smartasscrew, MONSTER CLUB
Get your FIX today?

I'm shocked! I hope his family finds peace after this terrible episode and strength to recover from it. And I send to them my regrets and my support,

G.M.

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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Every morning a gazelle wakes up knowing, it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed...
Every morning a lion wakes up knowing it must outwit and outrun (at least) the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death...
It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle, when the sun comes up, you'd better start running.

I traded emails with him a week ago after purchasing some items from his website. He was very kind. Shared his thoughts on the Auburn tri course.

Live life.

Albert

I was shocked this morning when I read this news....very sad.

Unfortunately, he is amoung many elite athletes who suffer early death due to some heart issue. I have personally known four elite swimmers who died due to some ventricular hypertrophy related issue.........with Larsen's death it hits home again.

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http://theworldthroumyeyes.tumblr.com/

from joe friel:
http://www.trainingbible.com/...ness-and-health.html

As a father, employee, business owner and triathlete Steve was a true "Hero" and Role model for me. He was one of the first names I would look for in the results when i knew he was racing and I was always rooting for him to have another day like he had in Placid....

Deep Condolences to his wife and kids. He will be sadly missed by many...

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www.true-motion.com Triathlete Casual Wear since 2007
(Twitter/FB)

velonews had article saying autopsy showed it was not heart related he had some breathing problems earlier no sign of heart attack or clot could have been viral or related to allergies.

http://velonews.com/...ie-of-a-heart-attack

Reading that reminded me of another recent incident, Ryan Shea. He died of a sudden cardiac event during the Olympic marathon trials. I believe it is still a mystery. The Jim Fixx incident woke a lot of us up to the power of genetics and the limitations of exercise as regards prevention. Brian Keast can attest that this has not changed over the years.

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Frank,
An original Ironman and the Inventor of PowerCranks

The worst news. It is always hard to believe when these things come from 'the blue'.

Heard many great things about Steve as an athlete over the years.

Wishing all his family extra 'strength' at this time.




G.

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http://www.TriathlonShots.com
Full event coverage of triathlon/ironman in photos.

I'm so sorry for you and your kids. I'm speechless.

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_________________
Dick

Take everything I say with a grain of salt. I know nothing.

'Steve Larsen memories" Huh! A new book???? Then I saw this thread above it!!!! Just terrible.

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_________________
Dick

Take everything I say with a grain of salt. I know nothing.

He inspired a lot us, mainly through the priorities he had, but also the talent he had.

You all have a lot to be proud of.

ive just heard about this and I feel for his kids.....

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Stephen Perera
Gibraltar, Europe
graphics@gibraltar.gi

So hard to put words to such trajedy and loss...

An indescribable void left by someone I didn't personally meet but respected on many fronts - his athletic accomplishments and dedication to the sport, his devotion to family, his method of training, broken into small pieces to fit into a busy life, and his approachable and humble demeanor on this forum. Truly someone to emulate.

To gimmefive and each of the five he gave you, I wish you peace, comfort, and courage.

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Coach at KonaCoach Multisport

Terribly sad news. My condolences to his family and friends. He certainly sounded like a great guy, father, and friend.

Steve was a hero of our sport. He will be sorely missed. My thoughts and condolences to the family, my wife and I are both very saddened to hear this.

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http://www.mountainmettle.com

i just found out about this very very sad news.

my condolescense to the family/ friends and anyone who was a fan

very sad

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S�rgio Marques
When it hurts is when it feels good ;-)
Sergio-Marques.com

Seeing his awesome smile in all these photos makes me even more sad. We know he is in a better place, but he'll be terribly missed here.

here is a link to the fund for his family:


http://www.worldtri.com/...rsenmemorialfund.htm

Others ways to Contribute Celebrate his Life: Steve's Memorial Service is Saturday, May 23rd at 1 pm at Les Schwab Amphitheater. Many people are planning to meet at Drake park at 12:30 and run or bike to the service. Contribute to the Steve Larsen Memorial Fund that will go to the Larsen family. This fund is set up at Umpqua Bank. You can drop a check off at any Umpqua bank branch, at Fleet Feet Bend or at Footzone or you can mail a check to:

Steve Larsen Memorial Fund
Umpqua Bank
390 SW Century Drive Suite 100
Bend OR 97702
Hopefully, you will also be able to contribute online in a few days if you check this site: http://www.rememberstevelarsen.com/ Or, if you prefer, Katie Caba is kindly organizing dinners for the family. You can donate money that will be used to purchase gift cards at dinner places for the family. (Also by dropping off a check at Fleet Feet or Footzone.) If you want to donate a home-cooked dinner, contact us and we can put you in touch with the right people. Finally, next Friday afternoon (May 29th) at 4:30pm there is an exhibition steeplechase, the only non-high school event open to the public, being held at Summit High School as part of the Oregon Elite Championship Meet. They are asking for a $5 minimum donation as a fundraiser for the family of Steve Larsen.

I'm shocked and speechless. What a terrible loss! My condolences to the Larsen family.

David

great way to live the body
Happy for Steve

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Hare Krishna

So very sorry. It's all been said already. He seemed like a great guy.

as a colleague of mine said at the funeral of his 3 month old son, a person is measured by the number of people he touches and hearts that he opened. it is clear from these comments that steve touched and inspired many.

Terrible news. So very, very sad. Deepest sympathies to the family.

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"I really wish you would post more often. You always have some good stuff to say. I copied it below just in case someone missed it." BarryP to Chainpin on 10/21/06

I was running this morning and the IPod was shuffling through my play list. Shortly after I turned into a stiff NE wind this song played:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vf2Gah9A3A

This song really hit home today. As I thought about Steve's death and what his family & friends must be going through I noticed that the wind was blowing the tears off my face.

I wonder what we could do as a preventive measure since being fit is simply not enough to identify/prevent/remedy this. Any ideas??

OMG - been away from ST for a while and just read this.

Devastating news.

God SPEED SL

Like most, I was in complete disbelief when I heard the news. Here is a guy that did everything right and his life was cut short. I suspect he made up for it by living life fuller than most. It reminds me to not take things for granted and to cherish the things I have. RIP Steve.

Late in posting where I've been away for a few days, very sad news. My condolences to his family and friends.

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"You can never win or lose if you don't run the race." - Richard Butler

I just returned from 10 days in Italy, and trying to stay internet free, and saw the article on Velonews. I am just shocked and saddened to hear the news.

My condolences to the Larsen family, and all my friends in Bend who trained with, knew, and cared about Steve.

Sue in Boise

my thoughts and prayers are with everyone that Steve has influenced in his life..

How utterly sad. My heartfelt condolences to his friends and family, especially to his kids.

Getting news about Steve and his latest accomplishments was always a pleasure and an inspiration to me.

He left a remarkable legacy.

 This was in my email today. I thought it fit.
clm

Dr. Samuel Johnson once observed, “When grief is fresh, every attempt to divert it only irritates.” Whenever we learn someone is grieving the loss of a loved one, the temptation is to rush in, offer comforting words, and then try and divert another’s angst, as if this will somehow help. It probably does help the one reaching out, though often words alone may do little to assuage another’s sorrow. Not that words of comfort are unimportant but maybe it’s simply awareness that you care that carries greater import. A parishioner once told me that when his father died, his minister came to visit, sitting with him for an extended period before leaving without saying a word. “It was,” said the congregant, “among the most meaningful acts of ministry displayed during my grieving.” One of my three brothers recently died and while much comfort was received from the words of many, I can relate to one whose wise clergyperson came and simply sat. Sometimes our mere presence most eloquently states: someone cares. This, however expressed, is among the best gifts we can give those who mourn.

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com